1969 Corvette Stingray - The Glass Menagerie

This '69 427 is a Proud Trailer Queen

Ken Smith's list of cars, previously owned or current residents of his garage, reads like a pedigree of America's best machines: a sequence of Vettes including a drop-top '66 427, a '67 convertible 427, a '69 L89 427, two 454-powered 72s, a pair of '74 coupes, a red-on-red '77, a '79, a black and silver '82, a '95 convertible, and a '00 yellow convertible, while two GTOs, a super rare Starlight Black '69 Judge, an Orbit Orange '70 Judge, and two Mopars--a '68 426 Hemi Charger R/T and a wild, winged '69 440-powered Daytona--top off the list. But seperate from that list is this outrageously orange '69 427 concours restoration.

A shot of horsepower was injected into Ken's veins at an early age. When he was four years old, he rode in a '58 white-and-red roadster that belonged to his father's friend, and it left a lasting impression on him. His interest in cars matured as he learned to drive his sister's '68 Cougar XR7, and as he continually commandeered his mother's '69 Charger R/T during his high school years.

When Ken graduated from high school, his father decided it was time he got his first Corvette. His '73 Ford Gran Torino Sport fastback was traded in for a new '74 Corvette. Though not a fabled '69 427 or a '71 454 LS6, the small-block Sting Ray was a great introduction into the realm of Corvette ownership. Ken, while attending college at TCU, registered his vehicle with the Corvette Club of Texas. During the NCCC meet in 1977, he laid his eyes on a beautifully kept '69 Monaco Orange coupe. It would be an iconic moment for Ken as it would become his El Dorado, the subject of a search that would take, ultimately, nearly twenty years to finally conclude.

Through the years, Ken had cars come and go but none captured his heart like the orange '69. when word came through the grapevine about a true Monaco Orange 427 coupe, Ken quickly looked into it.

It seems a gentleman named Dennis Davis in Canada had a friend who wanted to completely restore a Corvette.

Unfortunately, the task was far more than his friend bargained for. Finally weary of looking at the splintered Corvette scattered across the garage floor, he sold it to Dennis, who began thrashing on the '69 solo. It took years of dedication and thousands of dollars, but the final product was a Corvette worthy enough to take Top Flight, Bloomington Gold, Triple Crown, and the Duntov award. Then with only 50 miles on the odometer, Dennis put it up for sale. Hearing about the car, Ken forwarded Dennis $25 for a video tape of the car in motion.

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1969 Corvette Stingray - The Glass Menagerie

Engine ::: The rare L68 Tri-Power 427 was rated at a whopping 400 horses in 1969. Other engine combinations for that year included the rare, all-aluminum, L88 427 dubbed ZL1, as well as the aluminum-headed L88 code engines that pumped out 430 horses, 30 more than the venerable L68. This plant is stock, expect nothing less.

Office ::: He's even got the radio tag. This is what you call a perfect restoration. No detail has been overlooked.

High & Dry ::: This is Ken's Corvette in its most natural habitat while attending the nation's Corvette events. Some cars have all the luck.

Hood ::: An immediate add-on with the marking of the 427 plant was this bulge hood with twin louvers.

Tires ::: The raised white letter tires were available as option PU9.

Back ::: The luggage rack could be ordered from the factory or added on at the dealership.

The Bloomington Gold Show is one of the top Corvette shows held in the U.S. each year, and this year the event held at the University of Illinois grounds. Corvettes built in 1963 were honored this year in a Gold Year exhibit in front of the State Farm Center. Check out the rest of the 2013 show here! » Read More